peremptory
Americanadjective
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leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative.
a peremptory command.
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imperious or dictatorial.
- Synonyms:
- domineering, dogmatic, arbitrary
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positive or assertive in speech, tone, manner, etc.
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Law.
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that precludes or does not admit of debate, question, etc..
a peremptory edict.
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decisive or final.
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in which a command is absolute and unconditional.
a peremptory writ.
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adjective
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urgent or commanding
a peremptory ring on the bell
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not able to be remitted or debated; decisive
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positive or assured in speech, manner, etc; dogmatic
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law
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admitting of no denial or contradiction; precluding debate
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obligatory rather than permissive
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Usage
What does peremptory mean? Peremptory describes having no room for denial or refusal, as in The CEO’s peremptory remarks ended all discussion on the sale of the company.When it refers to a person’s manner, peremptory means authoritative or demanding, as in Kayla’s peremptory look always stopped her children from arguing with her.Peremptory can also describe speech or manner as assertive, as in When you present your idea to the committee, be confident and peremptory. In law, peremptory can describe something as final or definite. For example, a peremptory trial date means that the trial is happening on that date and that you can’t delay it any further. In law, peremptory can also mean absolute and unconditional, as with a formal order (writ).Be careful not to confuse peremptory with preemptory. Preemptory relates to doing something before someone else. A preemptory attack, for example, would be an attack made on the enemy before they can make one on you. Example: The boss was known for making frequent and peremptory commands that no one dared disobey.
Other Word Forms
- overperemptoriness noun
- overperemptory adjective
- peremptorily adverb
- peremptoriness noun
- unperemptoriness noun
- unperemptory adjective
Etymology
Origin of peremptory
First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin peremptōrius “final, decisive,” literally, “deadly, destructive” (derivative of perimere “to take away fully, destroy, slay”), equivalent to per- per- + em- , base of emere “to buy,” originally “to take” + -tōrius -tory 1, with intrusive p
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He also said that there was “nothing here … that would any way bias me,” but he was eventually struck by the prosecution with a peremptory challenge.
From Slate • Apr. 18, 2024
To save a peremptory challenge, the prosecutor might ask the judge to remove that potential juror for expressing doubt about his ability to follow the law.
From Salon • Apr. 15, 2024
“If you’re going to strike everybody who’s either a Republican or a Democrat,” the judge observed at a February hearing, “you’re going to run out of peremptory challenges very quickly.”
From Seattle Times • Apr. 14, 2024
Each side has 10 "peremptory" challenges, jurors they can dismiss for no particular reason, said Ms Florence.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024
When he left the house he drove rapidly to town, overreaching the slow sabbath groups and the peremptory bells along the broken air.
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.